He spoke with a studious fidelity to a parenthetical manner, into which every little fact--that is, every detail--fitted with delightful ease.

Not a murmur nor even a movement hinted at interruption.

The great Personage might have been the statue of one of his own princely ancestors stripped of a crusader's war harness, and put into an ill-fitting frock coat.

The Assistant Commissioner felt as though he were at liberty to talk for an hour.

But he kept his head, and at the end of the time mentioned above he broke off with a sudden conclusion, which, reproducing the opening statement, pleasantly surprised Sir Ethelred by its apparent swiftness and force.
"The kind of thing which meets us under the surface of this affair, otherwise without gravity, is unusual--in this precise form at least--and requires special treatment." The tone of Sir Ethelred was deepened, full of conviction.
"I should think so--involving the Ambassador of a foreign power!" "Oh! The Ambassador!" protested the other, erect and slender, allowing himself a mere half smile.